Golfsmith International President Sue Gove has added the title of chief executive officer, the company announced earlier this week. Her ascent to the top job at the world's largest specialty golf retailer makes her one of the most influential women in the golf industry.

Since joining Golfsmith International in 2008, Sue Gove has improved the company's operations in areas of store productivity, supply chain management, distribution, finance and information technology.

Golfsmith International President Sue Gove has added the title of chief executive officer, the company announced earlier this week. Her ascent to the top job at the world's largest specialty golf retailer makes her one of the most influential women in the golf industry.

Gove had been serving as president and chief operating officer of Golfsmith and Golf Town since the two specialty retailers were merged into one last summer. She also served as the chief integration officer leading the Golfsmith-Golf Town combination, which is owned by OMERS Private Equity.

Outgoing Golfsmith CEO Marty Hanaka will stay on in an advisory role through the end of this year, the company said.

"We're thankful to Marty for his strong leadership over the years. He has been a wonderful asset to the company and we wish him all the best in the future," said Don Morrison, senior Managing director of OMERS Private Equity. "With Sue Gove's leadership, and her team now in place, we are well equipped to achieve the goals of the combination and take the business into the future."

Since joining Golfsmith International in September 2008 as chief operating officer, Gove has been instrumental in improving Golfsmith's operations in the areas of store productivity, supply chain management, distribution, finance, and information technology, the company said.

Golfsmith International operates 152 retail Golfsmith locations in the United States and Golf Town stores in Canada and Boston, as well as a pair of e-commerce sites. The company reported preliminary second-quarter revenue of $146 million in July, compared with $130.2 million during the same period last year.